Sign holding and attaching clamps



July 3, 1956 B. c. GOUGH SIGN HOLDING AND ATTACHING CLAMPS Filed Nov. 9,1953 Boyd 6. 009/) INVENTOR.

BY 4%.. Mew? 2,752,709 SIGN HOLDING AND ATTACHDIG CLAMPS Boyd C. Gough,Murray, Utah Application November 9, 1953, Serial No. 390,872 4 Claims.(Cl. 40-125) The present invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in novel and practical means which is especially adapted toaccommodatingly grip and hold a paper, cardboard or equivalentbanner-type sign and which is such in construction that the sign may besupported handily and advantageously from a rain gutter of the form nowused on automobile and similar vehicle roof constructions.

It is a matter of common knowledge to those skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates that many and varied so-called attachments such asmay be categorized as fixtures and brackets have been devised by thoseengaged in this line of endeavor to serve as attaching and holddownclamps for advertising signs, fish pole carriers and holders, funeralflags, banners and the like. It is an object in the instant matter toprovide improved clamping means which is structurally unique anddistinct and is characterized by novel cooperating brackets and claspswhich lend themselves admirably well in clamping and attachingdisplay-type political campaign signs, signs for tourists and mechandiseand commodity advertising placards and equivalent displays.

Keeping in mind the prerequisites of simplicity in construction, economyin construction and purpose and matters of commercial appeal generallyspeaking, the particular subject matter under consideration has to dowith novel clamps having perpendicular portions adapted to embrace andmaintain the sign between themselves and whose lower end portions areespecially fashioned to conformably cooperate with and maintainthemselves in position on the gutter to which they are applied andtemporarily fastened.

Stated more explicitly, the preferred embodiment of the inventioncomprises a first or outer limb having a fiat upper end portion andprovided at its lower end with a gutter grip which is longitudinallycurved and conformable in shape with the outside flange and bottomportion of the rain gutter, and a second companion or complemental limbhaving a vertical clamping portion opposed in parallelism to thecorresponding portion of the first named limb and provided at its lowerend with a companion gutter grip which is conformable in shape with theinterior surfaces of said flange and bottom portion of the statedgutter.

In addition to the above, novelty is also predicated on stabilizing andbracing means for the cooperating grips on the lower ends of therespective bracket limbs. this end, the uppermost grip which fits intothe gutter this hooked finger is featured as a brace in that it restsagainst the roof of the car and assists materially in keeping the clampsin their erect positions, and consequently, satisfactorily holding thestretched sign in correct place.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying sheet of drawings.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein like nu- 2 metals areemployed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of an autd mobile equippedwith a rain gutter which serves to accommodate and support the spacedvertical clamping brackets and which, in turn, clampingly grip andstretch the sign between the brackets so that the sign is correctlypositioned and the advertising or other media is clearly visible;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the clamping brackets byitself;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a readily attachable and detachableclasp;

Figure 4 is a section on the approximate horizontal line 4-4 of Figure1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 5 is a section on the vertical line 5-5 of Fig ure 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings by reference numerals and accompanyinglead lines, the banner or ribbon-type sign is denoted by the numeral 6and it comprises a band of paper or cardboard which is stretchedhorizontally above the gutter and which has its end portions held downon the gutter by way of the improved clamp or bracket. The two bracketsused are identical in construction, and the description of one willsuffice for both. With reference to Figure 2, the bracket is denoted bythe numeral 8 and it is formed from a flat band of metal which is bentbetween its ends and upon itself as at 10 to define an elongate,U-shaped gripping device, and which is characterized by an outervertical limb 12 and a companion inner vertical limb 14. It is to bestated in this connection that the terms inner and outer are used, ofcourse, in relation to the views as they appear in the drawings in thisapplication, the left hand side of the automobile being the outersurface. In any event, the lower end of the outer limb 12 is curvedlongitudinally as at 16 to provide a grip which engages beneath thegutter 18, as best shown in Figure 5. The lower end of the inner limbhas a similar curvate bend 2i spaced from the bend 16 and cooperatingtherewith and providing a gutter clamping means. This grip 20 has anextension 22 which is oblique-angled and which terminates in a returnbend forming a sort of a hook 24. This is the aforementioned hookedfinger which constitutes a stabilizing brace and which rests against theroof of the car 26 in the manner best shown in Figure 5. The endportions of the paper or cardboard sign are tucked in between thegripping limbs 12 and 14 in an obvious manner. To squeeze these armstogether and to hold the end portions 28 in place, there are providedU-shaped clasps 30 which are readily attachable and detachable. The bendor bight of the clasp is denoted at 32, and this joins the long andshort arms 34- and 36 together. The long arm has a lateral bend 38 whichis at right angles to the arm, and the free end of the shorter arm alsohas a lateral deflected bend 40.

The clasp in the construction shown is readily attachable anddetachable, and it is sufiiciently resilient to squeeze the arms firmlyclamp the ends of the paper sign in place. The deflected end 4t servesas a sort of a pilot and it comes in handy in initially placing theclasp at right angles to the lengthwise dimension of the clampingbrackets 3 so that the clasp may be fed into its clamping position,which is the position shown in Figure 4. Once the clasp is in place andit is necessary to change the sign and to unclamp the end portions 28,the user simply pushes against the thumb rest 38 which serves as ashoulder, and this slides the clasp at right angles to 12 and 14, andpermits the user to angle the clasp oil of the clamping bracket in aconvenient and seemingly 0bvious manner.

or limbs 12 and 14 together and to It will be clear from the drawingsand the description that each clamping bracket is susceptible ofmanufacture from common fiat band metal which is bent in the mannershown best in Figure 2. No bolts or nuts are required in thisconstruction. Having a one-piece clamping bracket is thought to bedesirable, and therefore, more practical. The grips 16 and 2% inconjunction with the brace finger ZZ provide highly satisractory readilyattachable and detachable clamping jaw action in respect to thecooperating portions of the rain gutter. The sign is held at its ends,stretched and held tight, and this means that a lighter piece of paperor cardboard is capable of being used. The spring arms help stabilizethe clamp against the car top and automatically adjust themselves to thespace between the crest or curvature of the roof and the gutter, andaccommodate either gutters which are deep and wide orofditferent andvarying dimensions.

,Itis believed that the invention is characterized by the prerequisitesof simplicity in construction, economy of manufacture andappropriateness in design. With the construction revealed, it is feltthat it will be found such as to meet not only the ordinarymanufacturing requirements, but the general needs and purposes of users.

,From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device willbe readily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to thoseskilled in the art, it is not desired to limit theinvention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. Sign clamping and attaching means which is attachable to andsupported by a rain gutter such as is commonly in use on an averageautomobile comprising a onepiece hold-down bracket having an outerlinearly straight limb provided with a free end portion having a guttergrip longitudinally curved and conformable in shape with the outsideflange and bottom portion of said gutter, and an inner correspondinglystraight limb opposed in close spaced parallelism to said first namedlimb and of a length corresponding to the latter limb and having asimilar free end portion provided with companion gutter grip conformablein shape with the cooperating interior surfaces of said flange andbottom portion, the respective other ends of said limbs being joinedtogether, said companion grip embodying an upstanding extension obliqueto said inner limb, said extension providing a stabilizing brace whichis adapted to rest in firm contact with that part of the roof of theautomobile which is adjacent to said gutter.

2. Sign clamping and attaching means which is attachable to andsupported by a rain gutter such as is commonly in use on an averageautomobile comprising a one-piece hold-down bracket having an outerlinearly straight limb provided with a free end portion having a guttergrip longitudinally curved and conformable in shape with the outsideflange and bottom portion of said gutter, and an inner correspondinglystraight limb opposed in close spaced parallelism to said first namedlimb and of a length corresponding to the latter limb and havprovide inga similar free end portion provided with companion gutter gripconformable in shape with the cooperating interior surfaces of saidflange and bottom portion, the respective other ends of said limbs beingjoined together, said companion grip embodying an upstanding extensionoblique to said inner limb, said extension providing a stabilizing bracewhich is adapted to rest in firm contact with that part of the roof ofthe automobile which is adjacent to said gutter, and a U-shapedresilient clasp removably embracing said limbs, said clasp embodyinglong and short arms having free ends terminating in individual lateralbends.

3. A sign clamping and hold-down bracket for attachment to a rain gutteron an automobile body comprising a one-piece unit formed from a lengthof resilient strap etal which is bent upon itself intermediate its endsto provide opposed linearly straight fiat-faced limbs, the free ends ofsaid links being spaced apart, one free end having a laterally curvedgutter grip, the other free end having a similar laterally curved guttergrip and also including an oblique-angled upstanding extensionterminating in a bend directed toward the adjacent limb and providing ahooked stabilizing finger, and a U-shaped resilient clasp removablyembracing the intermediate portions of the limbs and tensioned andadapted to squeeze said limbs together, said clasp embodying arms andthe free end of at least one of said arms having a lateral terminalbend.

4. Sign clamping, attaching and hold-down means for ready attachment toan automobile rain gutter comprising a pair of duplicate brackets, eachbracket comprising a one-piece unit formed from a length of resilientstrap metal which is bent upon itself intermediate its ends to opposedlimbs, said ends being spaced apart, one end having a laterally curvedgutter grip, the other end having a similar gutter grip laterally curvedin the same direction as said first named grip and in spaced parallelrelation in respect thereto and also including an obliqueangledupstanding extension terminating in a bend directed toward the adjacentlimb and providing a hooked stabilizing finger, a sign having its endsinterposed and clamped between the cooperating limbs of the respectivebrackets, and a U-shaped resilient clasp removably embracing theintermediate portions of the limbs of each bracket and tensioned andadapted to thus squeeze the limbs firmly together into close clampingrelationship, said clasp embodying arms at the free end of at least oneof said arms having a lateral bend.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.148,099 Tanchuck Dec. 9, 1947 1,074,273 Koller Sept. 30, 1913 1,478,209Eaton Dec. 18, 1923 1,637,564 Gillette Aug. 2, 1927 1,752,591 Ellis Apr.1, 1930 1,949,123 Jones Feb. 27, 1934 2,074,475 lesser Mar. 23, 19372,206,775 Hoofer July 2, 1940 2,209,864 Warren July 30, 1940

